Pressure cylinder connection



' June 27, 1944. w. H. HOAGLAND 7 2,352,434

PRESSURE CYLINDER CONNECTION Filed March 2. 1942 Fig. v

v MS 9 Figm 4 kwznfor: Walter H. Hoqqland bu His A++ornzq= /L BM% Patented June 27, 1944 Walter H. Hoagland,= Mount Vernon, N. Y., as-

signorto Shell Development Company, San Francisco, C'alif., a. corporation of Delaware Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 432,9'l9 (01. 137-69) Claims.

This invention relates to an improved pressure cylinder connection, and more particularly to a valved tap plug for containers adapted to handle fluids, especially containers of fluids under pressure.

V During recent years liquefied petroleum gases have come to be widely used for heating and other purposes both industrially and domestically, such gases being especially adapted for use in rural localities where the central gas distribution facilities of the metropolitan areas are not available. As a result the use of small pressure containers of liquefied petroleum gases has become prevalent, such containers being detachable lrom the distribution system in order that they may be refilled when necessary. Since a new container is supplied to the consumer and the empty container returned to the supplier for refilling, it is necessary that a suitable pressure connection be provided in order to easily conneat and disconnect such containers from the conumer distribution system. The present invention relates particularly to a pressure connection for use with containers as described above. It is to be understood, however, that the scope and spirit of this invention is not to be thereby restricted, nor limited to any particular type of container, or containers of any particular type of fluid. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pressure container connection of the type described above. Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a foolproof, simple pressure container connection which may be easily connected or disconnected by an inexperienced person. Another object is to provide a pressure cylinder connection which cannot be connected or disconnected unless the dispensing conduit valve is in a closed position.

Other objects, together with some of th ad vantages to be derived in utilizing the present invention, will become apparent from the follow-' ing detailed description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin drawing, which constitute a part of this specification, and wherein:

Figure I is an elevation, partially in cross section, of the improved pressure container connection showing the same in relation to the consumer distribution line and the supply tank, both of which are shown fragmentarily; Figure II is a plan view through IIII of Figure I; Figure III is a side elevation of the valve operating cam; Figure IV is an end elevation of the valve operating cam; Figure V is a plan view of the valve operating'cam; Figure VI is an elevation of the stopper which is placed in the fluid exit end of the pressure connection during handling, transportation or storage of the pressure container; Figure VII is a plan View of the stopper shown in Figure VI; Figure VIII is a disassembled View of only the body of the container connection shown in Figure I. v

Referring specifically to. Figures I and II,'the body portion I of the pressure connecton or tap plug, as such devices are commonly called, is threaded into the wall of the pressure cylinder 2, a suitable gasket 8 formed, as are all the other gaskets mentioned hereinafter, of a material resistant to the particular material within the container being provided. Conduits 9 and 25 are provided within a conduit housing formed within 'tap'plug I and provide communication between'the interior of the cylinder and distribution system. A valve II] is provided between conduits 9 and 25' and prevents fluid flow between them when'in the closed position. In the upper part of the chamber in which the valve I0 is housed, flexible pressure sealing means such as a fiexible' diaphragm I3 is provided which seals the valve housing chamber and the adja cent conduit 25 from the atmosphere.' Diaphragm I3 is securely positioned around its periphery by means of a threaded bushing I4. The lower face of diaphragm i3 contacts the seat of valve stem IIbut is normally prevented from depressing the sameand thus opening valve III by the action of upwardly urging means such as spring member I2, which exerts an upward force on the lower face of diaphragm I3.

slidable contact means such as push button I5 is positioned within threaded bushing I4, is-

freely movable therewithin andrests against the upper face of diaphragm I3. Valve actuating means such as cam lever I8 is disposed above push button It in chamber 28 and is rotatably mounted by means of pin I9 which is in turn mounted within the body I of the tap plug. The body I also contains communicating with chamber 28 the slot 29 for enclosing the cam lever I8 in its incomparative position above the button I 5 as well as holes 39 for journaling thepin I9. Grooves as at 20, the purpose of which will be explained below, are provided in the outer face of cam lever I8. I

, A connection element comprising a wing nut 3'including a rigidly attached collar 6 and nipple. 5 is threaded into the body I of the tap plug as shown. Pressure sealing means such as gasket I1 is provided on which nipple 5 seats. A union or other common pressure connection serves to connect the tap plug unit with a gas pressure regulator 'I which is in turn connected with the consumers-distributing system. Referring more particularly to the detail of the cam lever, as shown in Figures III, IV, V, the camlever I8 is rotatably mounted on pin I9 journaled in holes 30. A spring 21 is rigidly attached at on end to earn lever I8 and at the other end to the wall of body I. This spring is arranged to normally urge the rotation of' cam lever l8 in a counter-clockwise direction, with reference to Figure I, and thus serve as means to hold the same in a position flush with the top of the body portion I of the pressure connector. The grooves 20 along the outer edge of cam lever I8 serve as receptacles for a tool to assist in raising and lowering the same. The stopper shown in Figures VI and VII comprises a body portion 24 which may be threaded into the tap plug in place of nipple 5, shown in Figure I. Above the body portion 24 is provided a cap 2|, to which a chain 22 may be attached in order to prevent loss of the stopper. The outer pe riphery of the cap portion 2| is grooved as at 23 and thus enables the stopper to be used as a tool which will grip the grooves 20 of cam lever l8 when raising and lowering the same.

' As shown in Figure II, collar 6 is provided with notches around the periphery thereof. These notches are slightly wider than cam lever I8. A contacting element such as an annular ridge 26 is provided, as shown in Figure I, around the lower face of collar 26, this ridge being constructed to strike the inner edge of cam lever l8 when nipple 5 has been threaded in sunlciently to seat against gasket I1 and to hold cam lever ill in a slightly tilted position, as shown in the drawing.

The operation of the tap plug is as follows:

When attaching a new pressure container to the consumers distributing system, the stopper 2| is first removed from the container and nipple 5 of the distribution conduit threaded into the container in place of the stopper by means of wing nut 3. When nipple 5 has been properly seated on gasket I'I, cam lever l8, which is normally held in a position in the slot 29 flush with the upper surface of tap plug body I by means of spring 21, will be tilted slightly upwards by means of annular ridge 26 on collar 6, which moves downwardly as nipple 5 is threaded into the tap plug body. Collar 6 is then further rotated, if necessary, by wing nut 3 until one of the peripheral notches in collar 6 is in alignment with cam lever l8. Using the grooved portion of stopper 2|, or other suitable means, cam lever I8 is then tilted upwards to a position at a 90 angle to its normal position. In so doing, push button I5 will be depressed and in turn depress valve stem II and thus open valve Ill, permitting fluid to flow from the pressure container into the consumers distribution system. Due to the fact that cam lever I8 is provided with a plane surface for contacting push button 15, the back pressure transmitted through push button l5 and against cam lever l8 by spring 12 will hold cam lever l8 in the upward position until manually released.

When the described tap plug is utilized for pressure containers in which liquefied petroleum gases such as propane and butane are stored, the valve assembly commonly used in vehicle tires throughout the country may be used for the valve ll! of Figure I. A valve of this type is described in detail in U. S. Patent 2,172,311.

When removing an empty or partially empty container from the distribution system, cam lever I8 is first moved downwardly as far as possible, i. e. until stopped by the annular ridge 26 of col.- lar 6. As a result, push button l5 will be raised by spring l2 and valve will thereupon close and prevent any further communication between the distribution system and the interior of the pressure container. Nipple is then unscrewed from the body of the tap plug by means of wing nut 3, cam lever l8 returning to its normal flush position as collar 6 moves upwardly with wins nut 3 and nipple 5.

A particular advantage of the above described tap plug lies in the fact that it is not possible, other than deliberately, to release material from the pressure container unless a proper seal has been made between it and the distribution system, since cam lever 18 cannot be grasped in order to be raised and thus open valve Ill until it has first been partially tilted by ridge 26 on 001- lar 6; this will not take place until nipple 5 has been safely seated against gasket ll. Further, it is impossible to break the connection between the pressure container and the distribution system without first closing the container valve l0 since collar cannot be rotated unless cam lever I8 is in the position wherein valve I0 is closed. By this arrangement possibility of serious fire and explosion hazards due to careless persons handling this type of equipment are greatly reduced.

I claim as my invention:

1. In equipment of the class described the combination comprising a source of fluid under pressure, a distribution system connection element, conduit housing means between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, pressure sealing means between said connection element and said conduit housing means, conduit means in said conduit housing intercommunicating between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, a valve in said conduit, valve actuating means mounted in said conduit housing, pressure sealing means between said valve actuating element and said valve and a contact element carried by said connection element arranged and adapted to move said valve actuating element into a partially operative position when a pressure seal has been made between said connection element and said conduit housing means.

2. In equipment of the class described the combination comprising a source of fluid under pressure, a distribution system connection element, conduit housing means between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, pressure sealing means between said connection element and said conduit housing means, conduit means in said conduit housing intercommunicating between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, a valve in said conduit, valve actuating means mounted in said conduit housing flush with the exterior surfaces of said conduit housing, pressure sealing means between said valve actuating means and said valve and a contact element carried by said connection element arranged and adapted to move said valve actuating element into a position whereat at least a portion thereof projects beyond one of the exterior surfaces of said conduit housing when a pressure seal has been made between said connection element and said conduit housing means.

3. In equipment of the class described the combination comprising a source of fluid under pressure, a distribution system connection element, conduit housingv mean between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, pressure sealing means between said connection element and said conduit housing means, conduit means in said conduit housing intercommunicating between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, a valve in said conduit, valve actuating means rotatably mounted in said conduit housing, means normally urging said valve actuating element into a position flush with the exterior surfaces of said conduit housing, pressure sealing means between said valve actuating means and said valve and a contact element carried by said connection element arranged and adapted to rotate said valve actuating element into a position whereat at least a portion thereof projects beyond one of the exterior surfaces of said conduit housing when a pressure seal has been made between said connection element and said conduit housing means.

4. In equipment of the class described the combination comprising a source of fluid under pressure, a distribution system connection element, conduit housing means between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, pressure sealing means between said connection element and said conduit housing means, conduit means in said conduit housing intercommunicating between said source of fluid under pressure and said connection element, a valve in said conduit, valve actuating means mounted in said conduit housing, means normally urging said valve actuating means into a position flush with the exterior surfaces of said conduit housing, pressure sealing means between said valve actuating means and said valve, an annular collar embodying peripheral notches therein carried by said connection element, said notches being arranged and adapted to engage said valve actuating element when said valve actuating element is in an operative position and contact means carried by said collar arranged and adapted to move said valve actuating element into a position whereat at least a portion thereof projects beyond one of the exterior faces of said conduit housing when a pressure seal has been made between said connection element and said conduit housing means.

5. In a tap plug the combination comprising a housing including a conduit therethrough, a valve in said conduit, valve actuating means comprising a cam lever rotatably mounted in said housing and normally flush with the exterior surfaces of said housing, pressure sealing means between said valve and said valve actuating means, a connection element arranged and adapted to engage said housing on the upstream side of said valve and in flow communication with said conduit, pressure sealing means between said connection element and said conduit housing means, a collar carried by said connection element and contact means carried by said collar arranged and adapted to rotate said valve actuating means to a position whereat at least a portion thereof projects beyond one of the exterior surfaces of said housing when a pressure seal has been made between said connection element and said conduit housing means, said contact means comprising an annular projecting element carried on the lower face of said collar.

6. In a tap plug of the type described including a conduit housing embodying a conduit therethrough and a valve in said conduit, the valve actuating mechanism comprising a cam lever rotatably mounted in said housing and flush with the exterior surfaces of said housing when in an inoperative position, means normally urging said cam lever toward an inoperative position, slidable contact means disposed between said cam lever and said valve, flexible pressure sealing means between said slidable contact means and said valve, means urging said flexible pressure sealing means upwards against said slidable contact means, a connection element in flow communication with said conduit on the upstream side of said valve in said conduit, pressure sealing means between said connection element and said conduit housing means, an annular collar embodying peripheral notches therein carried by said connection element, said notches being arranged and adapted to engage a portion of said cam lever when said cam lever is in an operative position and a contact element comprising an annular projection carried on the lower face of said collar and arranged and adapted to rotate said cam lever to a position whereat at least a portion thereof projects beyond one of the exterior faces of said housing when a pressure seal has been made between said connection element and said conduit housing means.

7. A safety valve connection combination comprising a housing containing therein a duct with a valve, a detachable conduit connection adapted to be seated in said housing and to communicate with said duct, a means mounted in and flush with top of the surface of said housing when in in operative position for operating said valve, and a means on said connection for raising said valve operating means above said top surface of said housing when said conduit connection is safely seated in said housing.

8. A safety valve connection combination comprising a housing containing a duct, a valve in said duct and a pressure sealing means, a detachable conduit connection adapted to be seated in said housing and to communicate with said duct and engage said pressure sealing means, means mounted in and flush with top of the surface of said housing when in inoperative position for operating said valve, and a means on said connection for raising said valve operating means above said top surface of said housing when said conduit connection is safely seated in said pressure sealing means.

9. A safety valve connection combination comprising a housing containing therein a duct, a valve in said duct, and a pressure sealing means, a detachable conduit connection adapted to be seated in said housing and to communicate with said duct and engage said pressure sealing means, a means mounted in and flush with top of the surface of said housing when in inoperative position for operating said valve, means for normally urging said valve into inoperative position, and means on said connection for raising said valve operating means above said top surface of said housing when said conduit connection is safely seated in said pressure sealing means.

10. A safety valve connection combination comprising a housing containing therein a duct with a valve, a detachable conduit connection adapted to be seated in said housing and to communicate with said duct, means mounted in and flush with top of the surface of said housing when in in-- operative position for operating said valve, means normally urging said valve into inoperative position, and an annular collar embodying peripheral notches therein carried by said conduit connection, said notches being arranged and adapted to engage said valve operating means when said valve is in an operative position, and contact means carried by said collar arranged and adapted to raise said valve operating means above said top surface of said housing when said conduit connection is safely seated in said housing.

WALTER H. HOAGLAND. 

